7 of the Most Instagrammable Places to Visit This Spring

Let’s be honest—part of the fun of a vacation is being able to show off envy-inducing photos to friends and family. These seven scenic springtime destinations offer a great time and photo-ops guaranteed to rack up plenty of likes on Instagram. From sunny beaches to lush forests to flower fields to eye-grabbing cityscapes, there’s a striking, Instagrammable location for any type of traveler.

Walk colorful, endless beaches in Miami, Florida

Miami is beautiful any time of year, thanks to its sunny days and sandy beaches, but there’s a reason it’s especially popular during spring break. While most of the country is still chilly, Miami’s beaches are packed with every type of vacationer imaginable. It’s a vibrant, ever-changing Instagrammable social scene. Snap photos of the waves, the colorful umbrellas, the iconic lifeguard stands and the lively partygoers. If you can tear yourself away from the beach, the Wynwood Walls—an outdoor area of colorful street murals painted by some of the world’s most famous artists—features enough stunning art to keep your Instagram feed eye-catching for weeks to come.

Experience pretty in pink in Washington, D.C.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most Instagrammable events on the planet. The festival is held each spring to celebrate the friendship between the United States and Japan, symbolized by 3,000 cherry trees that Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki presented to the city of Washington, D.C., as a gift in 1912. The trees and their bright pink petals are concentrated along the National Mall and the Tidal Basin, where you can capture the justifiably famous image of the blossoms framing the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The peak bloom date varies year to year but typically falls in late March or early April.

Spy cacti, cacti and more cacti in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix enjoys temperatures in the 70s and 80s for most of the spring, with very little rain, making it the perfect place to escape the cold. The Sonoran Desert is a lush desert, and in the spring, colorful cacti and wildflowers bloom. And Arizona locals can tell you it’s not yet too hot to comfortably hike Phoenix’s trails and capture the landscape’s visually rewarding vistas. You could even take a day trip to the Grand Canyon, where you’ll find some of the most Instagrammable scenes in the country—and avoid the summer crowds.

Go for beauty on the bay in San Francisco, California

The Golden Gate Bridge never ceases to impress. Head to the Presidio for a fantastic view of San Francisco and postcard-style, Instagrammable shot of the majestic bridge jutting out of the rocky hills and across the water, framed by a lush green backdrop. Elsewhere in the city, you’ll discover markets bursting with fresh produce, colorful Victorian-style homes, and Golden Gate Park in full bloom. Spring is relatively quiet in San Francisco, so you can take your time on your photos without other tourists ruining an ideal scene.

Explore an urban wonderland in Chicago, Illinois

In late spring, Chicago begins to thaw, and all that is beautiful about the metropolis comes to light. Lake Michigan sparkles, and the city’s numerous parks and gardens begin to bloom. The Cloud Gate sculpture—more commonly referred to as “The Bean” because of its shape—practically begs visitors to take a photo of their reflection in its mirrored surface. It’s also no longer too cold for an architecture tour along the Chicago River, where you’ll enjoy Instagrammable views of The Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower and more. Don’t forget to stop by the Chicago Botanic Gardens, where thousands of roses, geraniums and other flowers create a stunning display this time of year.

Hike the rural splendor of Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the U.S., and spring is a great time to go. The snow has melted, helping waterfalls flow through colorful vistas of more than 1,500 species of flowering plants. You can capture Instagrammable mountain scenes, close-ups of blooming flowers or impressive photos of towering trees, all within a few feet. A day of hiking through the park—it encompasses more than 520,000 acres—will give you Instagram material for days!

See a bluebonnet paradise in Ennis, Texas

The state flower of Texas, the bluebonnet, blankets rural areas outside of San Antonio and Dallas in the spring. Walk the 40 miles of bluebonnet trails in Ennis and enter your photos in the city’s photo contest for a chance to win prizes. Get creative and try visiting the fields at different times of day (sunset, when the pink sky hovers over the blue flowers, is especially Instagrammable), taking macro photos of the flowers or searching for people or horses to add to the lush scenes. Pro tip: April is the best time to visit Ennis, as the flowers are in bloom.